“I'll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I'll even 'hari-kari' if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun!”
-Captain Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H

There is a common theme among the outcomes of mass shootings and hate/terror crimes that not many have touched base on. From what I have noticed, too much focus is placed on what the right thing to do is and how to punish those who bring pain and suffering to others. Too often we place more effort in blaming the masses for being the way they are than aiding the victims in their recovery. The tragedies we’ve seen in our lifetimes all have common themes underneath. There one thing that comes from these disgusting situations that cannot be stopped, no matter how hard one tries, is strength.

You can storm into a church or a club and shoot as many people you possibly can, but you will not in any way weaken them or what they believe in. No matter how many people are robbed of their futures because of you, they will not crumble before you. You surely will not destroy an entire lifestyle or religion because of your destruction. You may bust through the doors of a gay club with intent to kill, but then what? Do you suppose that by ending someone’s life you will convince others to stop being who they are? Is it your belief that the world is a better place because you’ve brought about an immense amount of suffering? And if you open fire in a church, what are you accomplishing? Have you successfully convinced those that survive to stop worshiping their Lord?

If these are your goals, I am here to say you will never achieve them. You must realize that you strengthen those you hurt, not weaken them. Your hatred encourages. We worship harder, love more deeply, and cry out louder. We will not give up because you have slowed us down. We will not fall silent because you have caused those we love to do so. We will rebuild, we will push on, and we most certainly will not stop believing, loving, and moving forward.

If you have something you want to say, know the pen is far mightier than the sword. Never underestimate the power and strength of your voice. There’s absolutely no need for violence when there are a countless number of other ways to have your opinion and ideas heard. Yes, you have the right to carry a gun, but do not mistake a right as a suggestion that you should and never take advantage of that right in the wrong way.

By the end of your life, when you reflect on all you have witnessed and experienced, will you be proud of yourself for beating down the minorities and shoving away those different from you? Would your descendants be proud to call you their ancestor? Or will they be ashamed that someone so full of hate came before them? If you answered no to any of these questions, I encourage you to open your mind and your heart to those around you. Realize that just because others are different and may not believe in what you do, they are not less than you.